News in brief: Learning to drive at 11

Published:09:23Thursday 10 March 2011

CHILDREN as young as 11 are being allowed to drive in Sheffield in a scheme designed to cut accidents.

The Young Driver centre in Alsing Road, off Meadowhall Way, opened on Saturday and offers children aged 11 to 17 the chance to have lessons in dual-controlled Seat Ibizas before they can drive legally.

The aims is that they will be safer drivers once they have qualified. One in five newly-qualified drivers crash within the first six months of passing their tests.

Pub windows smashed

TWO etched glass windows at the Cobden View pub in Cobden View Road, Crookes, were destroyed when bricks were hurled through them after closing time.

Manager Laura Johnston said: “There is no reason for it – there has been no trouble, nobody has been barred, we just can’t understand it and just want the police to get to the bottom of it.

“One window was original, one was replaced in the ’70s, but both were lovely features and we used to get people just coming to the pub to take photos of them.”

Schools feel the heat

THE refurbished All Saints Catholic High School and Seven Hills Special School in Granville Road are to be heated by waste burnt at the Energy Recovery Facility in Bernard Road from September.

All Saints headteacher Bob Sawyer said: “We are very excited about the redevelopment of our school and the new heating system is an excellent initiative designed to reduce our carbon footprint and to keep running costs down.”

Accolade for teacher

TAPTON teacher Christine Conheeney is one of five finalists in a national competition to highlight work in encouraging and inspiring students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust Teachers’ Awards will be presented in London tomorrow (Friday).

20p to spend a penny

A 20P charge is being introduced next month for the refurbished toilets at Sheffield railway station to deter vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

East Midlands Trains, which manages the station, says its wants to protect facilities that are part of a £10m investment programme in stations.